Coronavirus Antibody Testing Available At Patient First Clinics

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Anyone age five and older can be administered the coronavirus antibody test at all of Patient First's medical centers on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Appointments are not needed for antibody testing. The antibody test is used to determine if someone previously had coronavirus and not to diagnose an active infection. It also is not a test appropriate for anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Patient First recommends being tested at least 14 days after the onset of coronavirus symptoms or 14 days after possible exposure, since it may take as long as two weeks for antibodies to develop.
The COVID-19 Antibody Test used at Patient First tests to see if the blood has antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes coronavirus.

Antibodies may be found in the blood when the body is responding to or has responded to an infection. Antibodies may give full or partial immunity to the virus to which they develop, according to Patient First. However, it is not known at this time how long the body will retain antibodies or whether they actually give immunity to future infections from this virus, Patient First noted.

Blood samples are sent to a third-party reference lab for antibody testing. Results are generally available in two to five days. For most patients, there is no out-of-pocket expense for antibody testing. For insured patients, the visit will be submitted to patients' insurance plans. Patient First accepts all major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. The lab will determine what, if anything, it bills the patient.

For those with coronavirus symptoms or who wish to determine if they have an active infection, Patient First also offers drive-up active virus testing at designated centers by appointment. Appointments for testing are made by calling a select designated testing center. Updates about testing sites, instructions about how to make an appointment, and other information is available at www.patientfirst.com/covid-19-testing.

All Patient First Medical Centers remain open on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day for patients who have an urgent need for medical or injury care.